TeamApple News

Just a day after the purported 4 inch iPhone "6c" was shown on YouTube, new rumours have surfaced via the somewhat credible 9to5Mac website, claiming that the new iPhone will, as expected, possess a 4 inch screen, but not for the reason you might expect. Apple is said to be upgrading the iPhone 5s, which wouldn't be completely crazy as they did bring huge upgrade to the iPod Touch which hadn't been updated since 2012. It would therefore be fitting that the iPhone 5s be updated 3 years after its release in 2013. According to many credible sources, upgrades to the iPhone 5SE (yes, you read correctly) will include:

The chamfered, shiny edges being replaced with curved glass like on the iPhone 6 and 6s lines

The same 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.2 megapixel front camera systems from the iPhone 6

Support for larger panoramas and autofocus for video recording

A barometer for tracking elevation in the Health app

An NFC chip for Apple Pay

The A8 and M8 chips from the iPhone 6

Bluetooth 4.2, VoLTE, and 802.11ac WiFi chips from the iPhone 6s

Live Photos from the iPhone 6s

The same Silver, Space Gray, Gold, & Rose Gold color options as the 6s line

You're probably wondering about the name, "5SE". Don't worry, so are we. According to sources from within Apple, the "SE" after the number 5 either stands for Special Edition or Enhanced (with the "S" still standing for speed). With Apple naming their 24 karat gold smart watch "Apple Watch Edition", not "Special Edition", the name "iPhone 5 Special Edition" does beggar belief. However, naming a slightly upgraded phone with a new colour option "Enhanced" does sound like a classic Apple move. They'll also say that the iPhone 7 performs on par with a supercomputer (probably). Another purported feature of this 5SE is Live Photos support. However, live photos on the 6S and 6S Plus utilises 3D-Touch, allowing for a pleasurable and clear user experience when viewing them. The iPhone 5SE, however, will sport the same non-pressure sensitive screen from the iPhone 5S. We're guessing that Apple's solution to this problem will be a touch-and-hold deal of some sort. That's all well and good, but we've seen Instagram supporting touch-and-hold triggers to mimic 3D-Touch, and, to be honest, it just looks tacky. Without the progressional induction of 3D-Touch elements (the harder you press, the more 3D-Touch activates) and without the Taptic Engine, the 5SE will surely give the same air of tackiness when displaying live photos. Despite this, Live Photos is one of the best features from the 6S and 6s Plus, one I've used a lot since its release. I used Live Photos on my iPhone 6 through the use of Cydia tweak and, i have to say, it didn't feel all that bad. But that was perhaps because I hadn't gotten used to using the iPhone 6S's actual 3D-Touch feature. So, previous owners of the iPhone 6S may be disappointed by the difference, but upgraders from lower spec phones won't. "But when will this awesomely old-school device be released?", I hear you so desperately wonder. Well, that's truly the unprecedented part; the iPhone 5SE is said to be confirmed for a March announcement followed by a late March or early April release. That would be the first time for Apple to break their cycle of iPhone releases, the announcements for which usually occur every mid June. However, we all remember that time when Apple hit us with a totally unannounced release of the iPod Touch 6th Generation which basically had the same specs as the iPhone 6... Apple you crazy things, you... So perhaps this March thing fits well with Apple's feeble attempts at being unpredictable, which has kind of backfired on them, or perhaps they can't wait to show us what they've done. As always, we'll keep you posted about new rumours and leaks, which there seem to be a lot of these days. Until next time, readers. Until next time.---​Instagram: @brychh